Gilbert's American Legion hosted a busy get-together on Saturday, featuring a ceremonial flag burning followed by the celebration of the post's 70th anniversary.

"We are going to give a dignified disposal to the unserviceable flags that have been flying over our veterans' graves and above people's houses," Post Commander Robert Calcavecchia said before the ceremony began.Legion members, Legion Riders, the Ladies Auxiliary and many more came together during the bright and sunny late morning and early afternoon to help send off our nation's flags.According to American Legion regulations, the event began with the sergeant-at-arms, John Defazio, presenting a flag to the post commander and vice commanders for inspection. The remainder of the flags, enough to fill the back of a pickup, had been previously inspected."It'll be torn, worn out," Calcavecchia said, explaining what dictates an unserviceable flag. "If it doesn't look the way a United States flag should look, it's unserviceable."After the vice commanders recommended the honorable retirement of the flags, the fires in the burn barrels were lit."A flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze, or a beautiful banner of finest silk. Its intrinsic value may be trifling or great, but its real value is beyond price, for it is a precious symbol of all that we and our comrades have worked for, and lived for, and died for - a free nation of free men, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and practice of justice, freedom and democracy," Calcavecchia said in closing.Boy Scout Troop 102, along with Cub Scout Pack 98, helped to dispose of the flags in the burn barrels watched over by Defazio and finance officer Everett Shaver."It instills patriotism and respect in the boys. They see so much on the news with disrespectful flag burning. They should see how it should be done, in the proper manner, and why it's done," Scout Leader George Liebegott said.Volunteers doled out flags to the line of Scouts, who alternately approached the barrels to deliver the flags to their final resting place."If you don't burn them correctly, it is disrespecting the flag of our country," Liebegott's son, George, a Scout with Troop 102, said. "We're doing it the proper way, where we're having a ceremony for it, and preparations, unlike someone who might just toss it in a campfire."Following the ceremony, dozens of guests stuck around at the Legion Hall to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Gilbert Post. The Hall provided an escape from the early summer heat, as well as a well-stocked spread of appetizers, hearty entrees and desserts."The turnout is really good. It's a really hot day, it's the 70th anniversary of the Legion, we're going to have some really good food and it's all open to the public," Calcavecchia said.Before the festivities began, the post commander explained the vacant place setting to commemorate prisoners of war, and those missing in action, who could not be there to celebrate with their fellow servicemen.Shaver, who previously served as post commander, explained the extraordinary accomplishments of the Gilbert Post, including the initiation of Operation Touch of Home, and the establishment of Paul's House in Jonas."This Post is very active in the community, with our veterans and active members," Shaver said. "I am so proud of this Post, and I am glad that I was a past commander of this Post."Next, former and soon-to-be current Commander Tom Franklin took to the podium to explain the history of Flag Day and the Pledge of Allegiance, detailing how Pennsylvania was the very first state to celebrate the holiday in 1937."Thank you all for being here. It's a great turnout, and I can only hope that my next year of service is as prosperous as my last five," said Franklin, who will assume the commander role in August.Calcavecchia rounded out the speeches by detailing the 98-year history of the American Legion as a whole, from the establishment of the organization in Paris in 1919, through its blossoming in membership and establishment of community service projects and beyond."Our Post came along upon June 14, 1947, 70 years ago. … Founded on the four pillars of care for veterans, strong national defense, Americanism and the wholesome development of youth, the American Legion offers its members the opportunity to continue to serve America long after we've hung up our military uniforms for good," Calcavecchia said. "It's up to us to continue to carry the legacy forward."